The plan for a #300m studio complex and film academy has been the best-kept secret in Wales.

It emerged yesterday that as many as 400 people had been working on the project planned for a former opencast site at Llanilid, near Bridgend, before the news was made public.

From the moment the project was first mooted 15 months ago, the key players had kept the scheme under wraps.

Film-maker Lord Attenborough emerged as one of the experts consulted. Other high-profile figures from the industry have been involved, though their identities are still being kept secret.

The developer, JV Partnership, has been formed solely for this project. It is an alliance between Fairfield Properties, owned by Bridgend-based Hopkin Joseph, and Westair Properties, headed by Stuart Villard in Cheshire.

Project spokesman Brian Willott said: "I was first made aware of the studio scheme in May last year when I was chief executive of the Welsh Development Agency.

"Stuart Villard came in and talked about it and, at that time, he was exploring various possible sites, of which Wales was one."

Mr Joseph, whose company specialises in land assembly and has been involved in residential and retail schemes in Wales, said: "I was introduced to Mr Villard 15 to 18 months ago and my involvement in the project evolved from there.

"We looked at a number of sites for the studios including three or four in England. Several sites were looked at in Wales and last autumn we narrowed it down to three possible ones. Llanilid was chosen and we have been working on that ever since.

"It is remarkable that there have been some 400 people who have been aware of the project and everyone has respected the confidentiality of it."

Proposals that are expected to create more than 2,000 jobs were put before Rhondda Cynon Taff Council on Thursday. If planning permission is granted, the developers are confident they will be able to attract Hollywood's top production companies.

"Consultation has taken place with a whole range of people," said Mr Willott. "We've spoken to the big companies such as Universal, Time Warner and Sony and a lot of interest has been shown in the project, particularly the leisure side of it.

"There is no need for a 'plan B'. Given the quality of the studios - they will have all the facilities needed from pre-production, through to post-production and editing - and lower costs involved for producers, we have every reason to be confident we can attract filmmakers over here."

Mr Willott said financiers behind the scheme were still formulating ways to meet the #300m price tag. The developer is expected to bid for a share of Objective One funding.

"I am confident this will get up and running," said Mr Willott. "But the next stage is to get planning consent. Nothing can go ahead before then."